Samuel Boas, a courageous teenager from Westport, Connecticut, demonstrated extraordinary bravery and skill when he employed his emergency medical services (EMS) training to rescue two companions during a harrowing bear attack. Boas’s quick thinking, composure, and unwavering resolve underscore the importance of proper training and preparedness in life-threatening situations.
The incident occurred during a hiking trip in Alaska, where Boas and his friends unexpectedly found themselves facing a grizzly bear. The massive creature charged at them, seriously injuring two companions. However, Boas’s EMS training enabled him to remain resolute and act decisively in the face of imminent danger.
Boas’s training in CPR, wound care, and other life-saving skills played a pivotal role in this life-or-death situation. By skillfully applying pressure to control bleeding and ensuring proper airway management, he significantly increased the chances of his companions’ survival. Comparing the wounds they suffered to the sort of thing he’d seen in combat in Afghanistan, rescuer Sgt. Brandon Stuemke credited Boas with providing “phenomenal” first aid to the worst injured of his new friends. “He used what he had,” Stuemke said, “and he did a phenomenal job. One patient had two sucking chest wounds from getting bit in the chest,” and both were pretty well chewed on. “The kid who did the treatment, he managed to patch some of the wounds and control the bleeding,” Stuemke said. “He had them in sleeping bags. Neither of them ever lost consciousness.”
Boas’s swift and composed actions not only saved lives but also mitigated potential complications and long-term consequences. His adeptness in assessing the situation and providing immediate aid underscores the significance of EMS training for individuals of all ages.
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